Crimefighting Always Pays

Please, before reacting/responding, read the piece in full as there are several different 'rooms' up, such as: the cocktail hall (this post), the dining room (link), the terrace (link) and the silent auction (link).

PS: Canon characters, OCs and crossover characters may interact with the post. No response length is expected, even just side commentary is fine on this post (some may even just watch arrivals on their tv if they're not attending, for exemple). We won't police anyone's interactions, but maybe make sure you're welcome into a conversation if you hop on existing threads between people. Otherwise, feel free to hop from a location to another as you please, even hold several different conversations with the same character, it's all very free!

I take a slow lap around the room. Old habit. I like knowing where everything is before I settle anywhere. Stage in the back. Bar off to the left. Staff weaving through the crowd with trays of tiny snacks that somehow look too pretty to eat. One of them offers me a tray and I grab a small bite after making sure there’s nothing in it that’ll wreck my meal plan. Even at a fancy party, I’m not about to lose a fight to hidden cream cheese.

I glance toward the stage where the jazz band has already started playing. It’s good background music. Loud enough to fill the room, quiet enough that people can still talk without yelling over it. The speech sticks with me too. I spend enough nights chasing people who lie for a living to appreciate hearing someone stand up and talk about telling the truth instead. That’s worth something.

I smooth a glove over my cape, adjust the cowl just a little and keep walking through the room at an easy pace. Every few steps I recognize another face from TV, newspapers or one of Gotham’s charity galas. Different city, same type of people.

Then my eyes land on the silent auction tables. A fundraiser for a library? Yeah… now that gets my attention. I head that way with a grin already creeping onto my face. If somebody expects me to walk past books without stopping, they clearly don’t know me very well.

“Easy, Ms. Lane… you’re gonna have me answering to ‘Batgirl’ for the rest of the night if we’re not careful.”

I say with a quiet laugh and hook a thumb toward the crowd around us.

“Walls have ears. Newsrooms probably have even better ones.”

My attention flicks to the drink in her hand and then the cheese disappearing almost as quickly.

“How many already?”

I ask with a smirk.

“Either this party’s treating you well or you’re stress-testing the open bar.”

I glance back toward the auction display for a second.

“And I was just about to get distracted by a fundraiser for a library. That’s practically cheating when I’m around.”

I fold my arms loosely, cape settling behind me, and ask with a smile.

“So… you surviving the party so far or are you already looking for an excuse to escape?”

"Three," she shrugged. The bartenders were pouring strong but nothing her natural tolerance couldn't handle. Seven more and Clark would have to carry her out. "You know no bar can handle a Lois Lane Stress-Test."

Lois nodded about the library.

"If I had a choice between being here or crawling into bed with Jon to read him a bedtime story..." She would always choose her son first.

“I believe that. If any bar can survive a Lois Lane stress-test, it’s earned a medal.”

Then I grin at the idea of them hiring me.

“Oh, yeah. They hired me to pull rabbits out of my cape and make balloon animals. Is something about my batsuit wrong, Ms. Lane?”

I pause a few seconds before shaking my cowled head.

“Nah. I’m just here as a guest.”

I glance around the room, my smile softening a little.

“After everything that happened here a few months ago… I ended up helping get a few people out during the attacks. Mara Feig was one of them.”

My eyes drift across the room for a moment before settling back on Lois and I shrug.

“I guess somebody at GBS remembered. And when the invitation came, I asked if I could attend as Batgirl. It’s a lot easier than trying to explain why Barbara Gordon suddenly has an invitation to a GBS event. You might say the charity auction for the library was a perfect excuse, but I promise you I had no idea this was gonna happen.”

A small smile appears onto my face and I fold my arms loosely as I glance toward the crowd.

Sincerely,

Since you’re not planning anything now or in the future, I assume all your experiments are completely harmless and perfectly legal these days. So how about this? Give me a tour sometime. I’d love to see your latest totally legal research in person. I’m sure you won’t mind an unexpected Bat-inspection if everything’s on the up-and-up.

Looking forward to your invitation.

Sincerely,

Hopefully you can forgive my refusal. See I am currently at an undiscussed place of recidance. And my experiments are at home. I already don't appreciate the people in my space, so I'll politely decline your self invite to my house. But if we meet sometimes while on the street. I would be happy to introduce you to my latest developments.

Sincerely,

Now you’re making it sound like we’re trying to coordinate schedules. ‘Meet me out on the street and I’ll show you my latest developments’. You really know how to ask a girl out in the most Gotham way possible.

Alright… next time we run into each other, you can give me the grand tour. I’ll even let you explain your brilliant scientific breakthrough before I tell you why it’s wildly illegal and start trying to arrest you. Just one request: leave the fear toxin at home. I’d rather see you than whatever nightmare you’re hoping I’ll mistake you for.

Sincerely,

You misunderstand my intentions. I am in no way trying to meet you in person. I tried to politely decline you. But seeing as gentry is dead. I will put it in simple man's words. Please stay away from me.

Sincerely,

I was being sarcastic. I know perfectly well you don’t actually wanna meet me. You’re a career criminal, I’m the person who keeps trying to stop you, and I’m willing to bet your ‘latest developments’ wouldn’t survive five minutes of legal inspection. So don’t worry… I didn’t mistake your rejection for an invitation.

That said, if our paths happen to cross while you’re out testing one of those completely legal experiments you definitely aren’t planning… well, I’ll say hello.

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Since you’re not planning anything now or in the future, I assume all your experiments are completely harmless and perfectly legal these days. So how about this? Give me a tour sometime. I’d love to see your latest totally legal research in person. I’m sure you won’t mind an unexpected Bat-inspection if everything’s on the up-and-up.

Looking forward to your invitation.

Sincerely,

Hopefully you can forgive my refusal. See I am currently at an undiscussed place of recidance. And my experiments are at home. I already don't appreciate the people in my space, so I'll politely decline your self invite to my house. But if we meet sometimes while on the street. I would be happy to introduce you to my latest developments.

Sincerely,

Now you’re making it sound like we’re trying to coordinate schedules. ‘Meet me out on the street and I’ll show you my latest developments’. You really know how to ask a girl out in the most Gotham way possible.

Alright… next time we run into each other, you can give me the grand tour. I’ll even let you explain your brilliant scientific breakthrough before I tell you why it’s wildly illegal and start trying to arrest you. Just one request: leave the fear toxin at home. I’d rather see you than whatever nightmare you’re hoping I’ll mistake you for.

Sincerely,

You hear countless tales of idiots who gain all they have ever desired only to become dissatisfied and throw tantrums like children. They risk it all, and gain everything yet have nothing in turn.

I do not have anything. I am not one consumed by childish emotions and attachment. Perhaps, once upon a moon, I had something worthy of adoration, but I was a fool then. I have grown with time, with my strength. Planets will fall, lives will be lost. Sacrifice is imbedded into the souls of the living. We all lose, we all take risks.

But history seems to try and show us that these sacrifices will gain us nothing. Stories of idiots. We all learn from the mistakes of our ancestors, ones who lived and fought before us. I do not need anything but this. No old story and tale that is twisted and told by a fool will stop a Lord.

I will bring order, I will bring safety. I will rise against these fools and I will obliterate any chance of defeat. Will power was once mine, something I was afraid to lose. This will not happen again, I have become more than what I once was. I will not hold a fear that I cannot control. Fear is power. Fear will save you. I will be your savior.

Trust me, we’ve got plenty of eyes on Earth already. Mine included. So if some self-appointed space dictator decides to make this planet his latest project, one of us is bound to show up.

The only reason I care for your idiotic planet is because It might possibly bring me closer to my inevitable success and power. I'm sure you and your other little humans will try and fight a fight that you will lose, it's almost entertaining to see you care so much about something so meaningless.

You keep calling Earth meaningless, yet every other paragraph circles right back to us. Our Lanterns. Our people. Our potential. For a world you insist you don’t care about, you seem awfully interested in recruiting it.

Minimal aspects of your planet, as a whole you're just a hunk of rock and water with organic life upon it. I do not care for all of you nor do I want anything from you that is synonymous with the word 'caring.' You're very insistent on humanizing me in some sense, I don't see the use.

Your positivity is mind numbing. It does make me curious how you will react when all you know and can see is filled with ache and fear. When all else crumbles will you still stand? Perhaps for now I will not be able to take you all over, but you certainly are not a threat to me, nor is any of your strange clan of powerless humans, and we grow in numbers and power, we become something more. Greater.

And you keep calling us powerless humans like that’s supposed to sting. Funny thing is, I’m one of those powerless humans you’re talking about. No power ring. No alien physiology. No magic. Just a cape, a lot of training and a bad habit of getting back up.

You ask if I’ll still stand when everything falls apart? Yep. That’s kinda the job. Fear has its place. It keeps people alive. But fear isn’t meant to be the one driving. The second it starts making your decisions for you, you’ve already lost more than any battle could ever take.

Sincerely,

Since you’re not planning anything now or in the future, I assume all your experiments are completely harmless and perfectly legal these days. So how about this? Give me a tour sometime. I’d love to see your latest totally legal research in person. I’m sure you won’t mind an unexpected Bat-inspection if everything’s on the up-and-up.

Looking forward to your invitation.

Sincerely,

You hear countless tales of idiots who gain all they have ever desired only to become dissatisfied and throw tantrums like children. They risk it all, and gain everything yet have nothing in turn.

I do not have anything. I am not one consumed by childish emotions and attachment. Perhaps, once upon a moon, I had something worthy of adoration, but I was a fool then. I have grown with time, with my strength. Planets will fall, lives will be lost. Sacrifice is imbedded into the souls of the living. We all lose, we all take risks.

But history seems to try and show us that these sacrifices will gain us nothing. Stories of idiots. We all learn from the mistakes of our ancestors, ones who lived and fought before us. I do not need anything but this. No old story and tale that is twisted and told by a fool will stop a Lord.

I will bring order, I will bring safety. I will rise against these fools and I will obliterate any chance of defeat. Will power was once mine, something I was afraid to lose. This will not happen again, I have become more than what I once was. I will not hold a fear that I cannot control. Fear is power. Fear will save you. I will be your savior.

Trust me, we’ve got plenty of eyes on Earth already. Mine included. So if some self-appointed space dictator decides to make this planet his latest project, one of us is bound to show up.

The only reason I care for your idiotic planet is because It might possibly bring me closer to my inevitable success and power. I'm sure you and your other little humans will try and fight a fight that you will lose, it's almost entertaining to see you care so much about something so meaningless.

You keep calling Earth meaningless, yet every other paragraph circles right back to us. Our Lanterns. Our people. Our potential. For a world you insist you don’t care about, you seem awfully interested in recruiting it.

You hear countless tales of idiots who gain all they have ever desired only to become dissatisfied and throw tantrums like children. They risk it all, and gain everything yet have nothing in turn.

I do not have anything. I am not one consumed by childish emotions and attachment. Perhaps, once upon a moon, I had something worthy of adoration, but I was a fool then. I have grown with time, with my strength. Planets will fall, lives will be lost. Sacrifice is imbedded into the souls of the living. We all lose, we all take risks.

But history seems to try and show us that these sacrifices will gain us nothing. Stories of idiots. We all learn from the mistakes of our ancestors, ones who lived and fought before us. I do not need anything but this. No old story and tale that is twisted and told by a fool will stop a Lord.

I will bring order, I will bring safety. I will rise against these fools and I will obliterate any chance of defeat. Will power was once mine, something I was afraid to lose. This will not happen again, I have become more than what I once was. I will not hold a fear that I cannot control. Fear is power. Fear will save you. I will be your savior.

Trust me, we’ve got plenty of eyes on Earth already. Mine included. So if some self-appointed space dictator decides to make this planet his latest project, one of us is bound to show up.

You hear countless tales of idiots who gain all they have ever desired only to become dissatisfied and throw tantrums like children. They risk it all, and gain everything yet have nothing in turn.

I do not have anything. I am not one consumed by childish emotions and attachment. Perhaps, once upon a moon, I had something worthy of adoration, but I was a fool then. I have grown with time, with my strength. Planets will fall, lives will be lost. Sacrifice is imbedded into the souls of the living. We all lose, we all take risks.

But history seems to try and show us that these sacrifices will gain us nothing. Stories of idiots. We all learn from the mistakes of our ancestors, ones who lived and fought before us. I do not need anything but this. No old story and tale that is twisted and told by a fool will stop a Lord.

I will bring order, I will bring safety. I will rise against these fools and I will obliterate any chance of defeat. Will power was once mine, something I was afraid to lose. This will not happen again, I have become more than what I once was. I will not hold a fear that I cannot control. Fear is power. Fear will save you. I will be your savior.

You hear countless tales of idiots who gain all they have ever desired only to become dissatisfied and throw tantrums like children. They risk it all, and gain everything yet have nothing in turn.

I do not have anything. I am not one consumed by childish emotions and attachment. Perhaps, once upon a moon, I had something worthy of adoration, but I was a fool then. I have grown with time, with my strength. Planets will fall, lives will be lost. Sacrifice is imbedded into the souls of the living. We all lose, we all take risks.

But history seems to try and show us that these sacrifices will gain us nothing. Stories of idiots. We all learn from the mistakes of our ancestors, ones who lived and fought before us. I do not need anything but this. No old story and tale that is twisted and told by a fool will stop a Lord.

I will bring order, I will bring safety. I will rise against these fools and I will obliterate any chance of defeat. Will power was once mine, something I was afraid to lose. This will not happen again, I have become more than what I once was. I will not hold a fear that I cannot control. Fear is power. Fear will save you. I will be your savior.

You hear countless tales of idiots who gain all they have ever desired only to become dissatisfied and throw tantrums like children. They risk it all, and gain everything yet have nothing in turn.

I do not have anything. I am not one consumed by childish emotions and attachment. Perhaps, once upon a moon, I had something worthy of adoration, but I was a fool then. I have grown with time, with my strength. Planets will fall, lives will be lost. Sacrifice is imbedded into the souls of the living. We all lose, we all take risks.

But history seems to try and show us that these sacrifices will gain us nothing. Stories of idiots. We all learn from the mistakes of our ancestors, ones who lived and fought before us. I do not need anything but this. No old story and tale that is twisted and told by a fool will stop a Lord.

I will bring order, I will bring safety. I will rise against these fools and I will obliterate any chance of defeat. Will power was once mine, something I was afraid to lose. This will not happen again, I have become more than what I once was. I will not hold a fear that I cannot control. Fear is power. Fear will save you. I will be your savior.

Please, before reacting/responding, read the piece in full as there are several different 'rooms' up, such as: the cocktail hall (this post), the dining room (link), the terrace (link) and the silent auction (link).

PS: Canon characters, OCs and crossover characters may interact with the post. No response length is expected, even just side commentary is fine on this post (some may even just watch arrivals on their tv if they're not attending, for exemple). We won't police anyone's interactions, but maybe make sure you're welcome into a conversation if you hop on existing threads between people. Otherwise, feel free to hop from a location to another as you please, even hold several different conversations with the same character, it's all very free!

I take a slow lap around the room. Old habit. I like knowing where everything is before I settle anywhere. Stage in the back. Bar off to the left. Staff weaving through the crowd with trays of tiny snacks that somehow look too pretty to eat. One of them offers me a tray and I grab a small bite after making sure there’s nothing in it that’ll wreck my meal plan. Even at a fancy party, I’m not about to lose a fight to hidden cream cheese.

I glance toward the stage where the jazz band has already started playing. It’s good background music. Loud enough to fill the room, quiet enough that people can still talk without yelling over it. The speech sticks with me too. I spend enough nights chasing people who lie for a living to appreciate hearing someone stand up and talk about telling the truth instead. That’s worth something.

I smooth a glove over my cape, adjust the cowl just a little and keep walking through the room at an easy pace. Every few steps I recognize another face from TV, newspapers or one of Gotham’s charity galas. Different city, same type of people.

Then my eyes land on the silent auction tables. A fundraiser for a library? Yeah… now that gets my attention. I head that way with a grin already creeping onto my face. If somebody expects me to walk past books without stopping, they clearly don’t know me very well.

“Well… that’s one way to get people’s attention at a charity auction.”

I step a little closer, keeping a respectful distance from the glass.

“It’s definitely got some history behind it. Hopefully just the interesting kind. I’ve handled enough sharp objects to know they usually come with stories. The older they are, the stranger those stories tend to get.”

A small grin crosses my face and I fold my arms loosely.

“I’m guessing you’re both trying to decide whether to bid on it or you’re just curious?”

I tilt my head toward the case.

“Personally, I think I’d rather admire it from this side of the glass. Makes for a lot less paperwork.”

“Sounds less like a storage problem and more like an intervention.”

I nod toward the display case.

“Besides, if you’re already running out of room, maybe that’s the universe telling you to let someone else win this one.”

“Yep… I wouldn’t trust a storage unit in Gotham with a collection like that. That’s practically sending an invitation.”

I look between the two of them and offer a hand as a grin tugs at the corner of my mouth.

“I’m Batgirl, by the way. And you two are?”

I grin and gesture around the room.

“It’s for a good cause.”

I tilt my head a little and look between the two of them.

“You’re both from Gotham, aren’t you? Because you recognized me pretty fast. Do I know you two or do you just know me?”

“Well, hopefully the rooftop sightings were the boring kind.”

My attention shifts to Anne, and I study her face for a second while scratching the back of my neck.

“You know… this is gonna sound weird, but you look familiar. I can’t place it, though. Feels like I’ve seen your face somewhere before.”

I smile apologetically.

“We haven’t met before… have we?”

“That might be it. I’ve stopped by Bat Burger a couple of times over the years, even if I’m more of a healthy-food person. Patrol burns a lot of calories, but it doesn’t magically make burgers a balanced diet.”

I smile at the girl.

Batwoman, if you’re too old for social media, then half of Gotham needs to delete their accounts.

I shake my head with a laugh.

And Batman… Oh, he’s still Batman. Brooding, giving me that ‘be careful’ speech every other patrol, acting like I haven’t been doing this for years. I give him a hard time right back. It’s only fair.

I smirk.

'Be careful.' At least he still tells you that. Last time I checked in I was on some 'three strike' count. It seems these days he tries to control every vigilante, anywhere.

And he's always been controlling, but I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up while I was on some off-world mission to give me a piece of his mind on what I do with 'his' symbol.

It's good that you're good. That's relieving to hear. I'm just investigating more of R.O.C. 's cults and the like. Dad's got some of his men monitoring the sanatorium Beth's in, just to be sure they don't go after her again.

First of all, if I ever catch you posting a blurry selfie with ‘Living my best life 😎’ on it, you can bet I’m saving the screenshot.

I make the joke and pause for a second before getting serious.

And yep… Batman can be a lot. I love him, but sometimes I think he forgets we’re not recruits anymore.

As for the cult… that part just sucks. Nobody should have to keep looking over their shoulder wondering who’s next. You, Beth, your dad… that’s a lot to carry.

I rest my chin in my hand for a moment.

I get why you’re tired of it. They’re obsessed, and people like that don’t know when to quit. But you know what? You’re still here. Every time they’ve tried to break you or your family, you’ve gotten back up. That doesn’t make any of this okay, but it says something about you.”

I love him. Somewhat. Well, obviously, actually. Blood runs thicker than water. Family is family, even if it's a man with less than favourable negative traits mixed in with the good. Like... a very average granola, I suppose. There's good and the bad.

It does suck. Thanks for listening to me, I'm glad I can talk to someone other than off-loading to my father or Bruce, when he's particularly amicable.

They are obsessed. Awfully so, but I guess by now it's nothing I can't handle. As always, I was forged by fire, not anyone in particular. I'll take your words as a compliment, but endurance is something built into me.

Through every military training, through all of my father's training, I was taught to 'soldier up.' And when you serve, you serve for life– even long after you've retired. I'm always ready for a fight, and I won't plan on backing down any time soon. Enough creepy cults can keep bugging me, I'll hold my own.

And ‘average granola’ might be my new favorite way to describe Batman.

I’m really glad you told me all this. I know you’ve been taught to keep moving no matter what gets thrown at you, and I know you’re more than capable of handling yourself. But you don’t always have to be the strong one. Even people like us deserve to put everything down for a little while.

So how about this? Next time we’re both free, come over and let me cook us lunch or dinner. Nothing complicate, just some good food, a quiet evening, and no masks, no patrols, no cults, and no Batman reminding us to be careful every five minutes.

It would be nice to hang out. I'd like to try your cooking, mine isn't.. the best.

I really appreciate it. And I'll have you know if you ever need me, or if any of you do at the cave, I'll try my best to be available. Working with a team at the Belfry– even with the Colony, wasn't all so bad.

So.. yeah. Feel free to come over when we're both free. It'd be welcome. As much as being a cape is my life, there should be a balance.

I’m really looking forward to it. I like cooking when I get the chance, especially if it’s for family. Actually… what’s your favorite dish? If I’m inviting you over, I might as well make something you really enjoy. I can’t promise it’ll be restaurant quality, but I promise it’ll be made with a lot more care than anything we’d grab between patrols.

And thanks. It means a lot knowing you’d be there if any of us needed you. I hope it never comes to that, but it’s nice knowing we’ve always got each other’s backs. You should definitely come by the Manor sometime. We all spend so much time running around that we forget we’re allowed to just exist together once in a while.

I’ll tell Batman you said hi. I might even leave out the part where you called him average granola. Depends on how many lectures he gives me before then.

I'm glad you like cooking. I can follow a recipe fine, I enjoy it as I do it but it's not my passion. Not like playing guitar or fighting crime. And my favorite dish? That's a hard question. Nothing in particular, but I like things with lots of flavor, if that helps. Spices.

Of course I'd be there. Even though I can't say I really am there all the time– it's more than likely I'm in another country for months at a time, I think of you all as family. Or, well, whatever's closest to it. And we have to keep each-others' backs, even when we tend to be pit against each-other.

But… I can make an exception. If I’m cooking for you, I’ll happily turn the spice level up a few notches. I’ll just make sure I keep a milder serving for myself.

And guitar over cooking, huh? Fair enough. We all have our thing.

Don’t worry about being halfway around the world. Family isn’t about being in the same place every day. It’s knowing that if one of us calls, the others will do everything they can to answer. So I really appreciate you saying that. It goes both ways.

You cook light, huh? That tracks. And you don't have to up the spice if you don't like it! I'm really down for eating anything, you know.

Yeah. We all do have our thing. Some nights I go out and play in bars before patrol. It's nice.

You play in bars? I didn’t know that, and that’s actually really cool! Kinda love the idea of you playing guitar before heading out on patrol! Sounds like a good way to clear your head.

And I do! Just on the nights when I have time for it. It is something to clear my head, yeah. Do you do anything like that?

And yep, I cook for myself when I can. Although weekdays are kind of a mess. Between work and the whole Batgirl stuff, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. I usually grab lunch at a little café near my workplace, then I’ll head home later and make myself something simple for dinner before patrol. Nothing fancy. Just healthy food that doesn’t take forever.

The weekends are a different story. If I actually get a quieter one, that’s when I like spending more time in the kitchen. I’ll try a new recipe, bake something or make a proper meal instead of rushing through it. I guess cooking’s one of those things that helps me slow my brain down for a bit. It’s nice to focus on something that doesn’t involve chasing criminals.

As for hobbies… to be honest, I don’t get nearly enough time for them. You must’ve guessed I read everything I can when I can, and every now and then I’ll find a little time to bake or cook just because I want to, not because I need dinner.

Please, before reacting/responding, read the piece in full as there are several different 'rooms' up, such as: the cocktail hall (this post), the dining room (link), the terrace (link) and the silent auction (link).

PS: Canon characters, OCs and crossover characters may interact with the post. No response length is expected, even just side commentary is fine on this post (some may even just watch arrivals on their tv if they're not attending, for exemple). We won't police anyone's interactions, but maybe make sure you're welcome into a conversation if you hop on existing threads between people. Otherwise, feel free to hop from a location to another as you please, even hold several different conversations with the same character, it's all very free!

I take a slow lap around the room. Old habit. I like knowing where everything is before I settle anywhere. Stage in the back. Bar off to the left. Staff weaving through the crowd with trays of tiny snacks that somehow look too pretty to eat. One of them offers me a tray and I grab a small bite after making sure there’s nothing in it that’ll wreck my meal plan. Even at a fancy party, I’m not about to lose a fight to hidden cream cheese.

I glance toward the stage where the jazz band has already started playing. It’s good background music. Loud enough to fill the room, quiet enough that people can still talk without yelling over it. The speech sticks with me too. I spend enough nights chasing people who lie for a living to appreciate hearing someone stand up and talk about telling the truth instead. That’s worth something.

I smooth a glove over my cape, adjust the cowl just a little and keep walking through the room at an easy pace. Every few steps I recognize another face from TV, newspapers or one of Gotham’s charity galas. Different city, same type of people.

Then my eyes land on the silent auction tables. A fundraiser for a library? Yeah… now that gets my attention. I head that way with a grin already creeping onto my face. If somebody expects me to walk past books without stopping, they clearly don’t know me very well.

“Well… that’s one way to get people’s attention at a charity auction.”

I step a little closer, keeping a respectful distance from the glass.

“It’s definitely got some history behind it. Hopefully just the interesting kind. I’ve handled enough sharp objects to know they usually come with stories. The older they are, the stranger those stories tend to get.”

A small grin crosses my face and I fold my arms loosely.

“I’m guessing you’re both trying to decide whether to bid on it or you’re just curious?”

I tilt my head toward the case.

“Personally, I think I’d rather admire it from this side of the glass. Makes for a lot less paperwork.”

“Sounds less like a storage problem and more like an intervention.”

I nod toward the display case.

“Besides, if you’re already running out of room, maybe that’s the universe telling you to let someone else win this one.”

“Yep… I wouldn’t trust a storage unit in Gotham with a collection like that. That’s practically sending an invitation.”

I look between the two of them and offer a hand as a grin tugs at the corner of my mouth.

“I’m Batgirl, by the way. And you two are?”

I grin and gesture around the room.

“It’s for a good cause.”

I tilt my head a little and look between the two of them.

“You’re both from Gotham, aren’t you? Because you recognized me pretty fast. Do I know you two or do you just know me?”

“Well, hopefully the rooftop sightings were the boring kind.”

My attention shifts to Anne, and I study her face for a second while scratching the back of my neck.

“You know… this is gonna sound weird, but you look familiar. I can’t place it, though. Feels like I’ve seen your face somewhere before.”

I smile apologetically.

“We haven’t met before… have we?”

Please, before reacting/responding, read the piece in full as there are several different 'rooms' up, such as: the cocktail hall (this post), the dining room (link), the terrace (link) and the silent auction (link).

PS: Canon characters, OCs and crossover characters may interact with the post. No response length is expected, even just side commentary is fine on this post (some may even just watch arrivals on their tv if they're not attending, for exemple). We won't police anyone's interactions, but maybe make sure you're welcome into a conversation if you hop on existing threads between people. Otherwise, feel free to hop from a location to another as you please, even hold several different conversations with the same character, it's all very free!

I take a slow lap around the room. Old habit. I like knowing where everything is before I settle anywhere. Stage in the back. Bar off to the left. Staff weaving through the crowd with trays of tiny snacks that somehow look too pretty to eat. One of them offers me a tray and I grab a small bite after making sure there’s nothing in it that’ll wreck my meal plan. Even at a fancy party, I’m not about to lose a fight to hidden cream cheese.

I glance toward the stage where the jazz band has already started playing. It’s good background music. Loud enough to fill the room, quiet enough that people can still talk without yelling over it. The speech sticks with me too. I spend enough nights chasing people who lie for a living to appreciate hearing someone stand up and talk about telling the truth instead. That’s worth something.

I smooth a glove over my cape, adjust the cowl just a little and keep walking through the room at an easy pace. Every few steps I recognize another face from TV, newspapers or one of Gotham’s charity galas. Different city, same type of people.

Then my eyes land on the silent auction tables. A fundraiser for a library? Yeah… now that gets my attention. I head that way with a grin already creeping onto my face. If somebody expects me to walk past books without stopping, they clearly don’t know me very well.

“Well… that’s one way to get people’s attention at a charity auction.”

I step a little closer, keeping a respectful distance from the glass.

“It’s definitely got some history behind it. Hopefully just the interesting kind. I’ve handled enough sharp objects to know they usually come with stories. The older they are, the stranger those stories tend to get.”

A small grin crosses my face and I fold my arms loosely.

“I’m guessing you’re both trying to decide whether to bid on it or you’re just curious?”

I tilt my head toward the case.

“Personally, I think I’d rather admire it from this side of the glass. Makes for a lot less paperwork.”

“Sounds less like a storage problem and more like an intervention.”

I nod toward the display case.

“Besides, if you’re already running out of room, maybe that’s the universe telling you to let someone else win this one.”

“Yep… I wouldn’t trust a storage unit in Gotham with a collection like that. That’s practically sending an invitation.”

I look between the two of them and offer a hand as a grin tugs at the corner of my mouth.

“I’m Batgirl, by the way. And you two are?”

I grin and gesture around the room.

“It’s for a good cause.”

I tilt my head a little and look between the two of them.

“You’re both from Gotham, aren’t you? Because you recognized me pretty fast. Do I know you two or do you just know me?”

I keep my expression steady as I stand in front of the glass, letting none of the alarm or skepticism show on my face. Inside my mind, I tighten my focus, reinforcing the mental barriers I’ve trained for exactly this kind of contact. I don’t accept what I’m being told at face value. Not from him.

“If what you’re saying is true, then there’ll be records. Logs. Medical documentation. Chain-of-custody reports for every procedure you’re describing.”

I think back carefully, keeping my tone controlled and deliberately non-reactive I shift my stance slightly, eyes flicking over the restraints, the guards’ positions, the cameras in the room. Everything is being recorded here. Everything always is. That’s the first thing I rely on.

“I’m not coming in here alone and I’m not removing oversight because you ask me to. If there’s abuse happening, it gets exposed through independent review. Not private conversations behind closed doors.”

I continue firmly, letting the boundary settle between us like a locked door. I pause just long enough to let that land. Then I add quieter, sharper.

“And if this is an attempt to isolate me or manipulate the situation, it won’t work.”

“No…”

This doesn’t feel right. An hour ago he was exhausted, barely able to walk. Now I’m supposed to believe he suddenly fought his way through a yard full of guards? I don’t buy it. I crouch beside the nearest guard, checking them over as I scan the area for tracks, broken restraints… anything.

“Tell me exactly what happened.”

“Nobody’s punching anybody until I know what happened.”

I glance at the guards.

“An hour ago he could barely keep his eyes open.”

I shake my head.

“That kind of change doesn’t happen for no reason.”

I fire my grapple toward the top of the wall.

“I’m going after him.”

I look back one last time.

“And nobody goes near Lawrence Whittaker.”

“Grodd… I’m here.”

My voice stays calm. I don’t move any closer yet. I watch the way he’s holding his head: the pain, the way he’s fighting something… Lawrence. It has to be.

“You don’t need to run. Whatever he did to you, we’re going to figure it out.”

I take one careful step forward and keep my eyes on him.

“Fight him. Not me.”

I tap the side of my own head and stay ready in case he lashes out, but I don’t reach for a weapon. Right now, I need him thinking and not fighting.